Vending machine



March 16 1926. 1,577,302

E. SCHULTZ VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2. 1926 5 sneaks-sum: 1

March 16 1926. 1,577,302

E. SCHULTZ VENDING MACHINE Fild Jan 2. 1926 a Sheets-Sheet 2 March 16 1926. Y 1,577,302

- E. SCHULTZ VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 r17 7/ I. Ewe)? 2701"; [272/07 (21/2712/[52 16 1 I stacked commodities.

I Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

unites stares arser caries n owann sonuLr'z, or cn caeo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBTO WILLIAM n. JENKINS, or CHIGAGO, ILLiNors;

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed January 2, 1926. Serial. No. 78,736.

To all whom z'zf'v'nay concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD SCHULTZ, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State 5 of Illinois, havelinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending Machines,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a coin-controlled vending machine designed for dispensing In its construction I have combined numerous improvements having to do with simplicity of the parts, facility in their assembly, durability in their operation, and protection against tampering. tainer units, one for leachstack of ar icles, each independent of the others, and. all adapted for enclosure within a. common housing. I a

My invention is further concerned with a delivery mechanism whose assembled parts co-operate to oppose discharge of an article except when operated in response to a proper coin; with an improved tension device 25 of simple character by which the delivery mechanism is returned to its initial position; with a draw-bar which passes through to the exterior of the housing without interfering with movement of the cover plate which a preferred construction is set forth in the accompanying drawings in the inanner following Figurel is a fragmentary :front elevation showing one end of a machine which is equipped with a plurality of, dispensing" 9 on lines 5-5 and 66 of Fig. 3; 7

Figs. 7, 8 and 9, which are perspective views,show in separated relation the three major parts comprising the delivery mechanism; and

It includes. alsoa number of; con-V through which it extends; and with numerous other features of construction which are also embodied in the" present invention of Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the latch member by which the dispensing operations are eontrolled The niaciime of the present invention may comprise one or more units Aeach of which constitutes an independent container from which articles may be dispensed. These units'are lllOllDtQClWltlllll a suit-ablehousing B having a proper length for the ac commodation of a desired number of container units. In each ofthe units is arranged a stack of articles or commodities, designated individually as Q. As each of the several units is a duplicate of the others, a description of but one is necessary.

In th form shown, each container unit comprises a pair of side walls 15 connected at the back by a wall 16 and at the top by a wall 17. Between the side walls in their lower region is a bottom plate X (see Fig.

9), the edges of which are, downturned to" provide flanges 18 having holes 19 for receiving bolts 20 which pass through the container side walls to support the plate removably in place. The front edges of the side walls may be outturned to provide flanges 21 the 'edgesof which lie close to the corresponding flanges of the adjacent units when the same are assembled within a common housing. 7

A shelf Y is also arranged between the side walls of the container unit, slightly above the bottom plate X. As shown best in Fig. 8 this shelf is downturned along its sides to provide flanges in each of which are holes 2.3 for the reception of bolts, 2st which pass through the container side walls to thereby support the shelf in place. As sociated with the shelf are certain rollers 25 (see Fig. 3) extending through openings therein so as to project to the upper side thereof, these rollers being mounted upon suitable studs or, if preferred, upon the bolts 2%, as hown. Also I have struck inwardly from the/side walls of the container unit certain cars 26 (see Fig 6) spaced slightly above the rollers so as to co-operate therewith in providing a 'guideway for a drawerZ, which, by preference, is

in the form of a plate (see Fi 7) The side edges of this plate arepreferably offset as at 27 so as to longitudinally reinforce the drawer, these edges being disposed between the rollers 25 and cars 26 so as to confine the drawer to movements in a straight line.

ing.

nection for the door.

which itmay be removed. door in place,- a reversal of this procedure with a'pair of flanges, facing toward each other whereby-to slidingly confine a coin of proper size. Owing to the inclined disposition of the chute, however, any coin of less than the proper diameter will be thrown'out laterally by centrifugal actionasit travels downwardly around the curve 72 at the rear side of the container .unit. By this simple means I have provided for ejecting 'im-' proper coins at the commencement of their travel within the machine.

The side walls. of each container unit which extend downwardly, as at 7 6, below the bottom plate, remain connected by the rear; wall 16. At" the bottom edge of each side wall, ad acent the rear connecting wall,

I have provided a notch 77 (see Fig. 3)

which interlocks with a flange- 7S extending upwardly from the housing bottom 79. By this means, the lowenend or each container unit is correctly positioned within the hous- From the hous ng top 80 depends a second flange 81 against which the baclewall of eachcontamer unit may berested. As

by means a single screw 82 passing through a hole 83 in the container rear wall for threadedconnection with this l'lange181, each container unit may be fixedly secured within the housing.

As shown best in Figs. 1 and 2, the housing bottom is upturned as at 8 t along'the .torward edge and is then inturned at 85, to

provide a square bead with which interlocks the lower oifset edge 86 of a door 87 which forms a closure for the housing front. The

door is provided with slots 88 throughwhich extend the operating ends of the several draw bars. Also openings 89 in the door are provided for the several drawers to slide through, these openings being normally closed by the front walls 34;, as shown. In

addition other slots 90 are provided in'tlie' door, one in register w1ththe receiv ng end of each coin chute, whereby to 13B11111t '1l1Se1-' tiono'f coins therein. The upper edge of the cover may be inwardly flanged as at 91 to overlie the housing top. A key-controlled-lock 92,inc-luding a bolt 93 for engaging with the inner face ofa flange 94 depending from the housing top, completes the conlVh-en' a proper key is employed to retract this bolt, the door may be swung out preliminary to drsengaging. its lower edge from the hous ng, after To attach the is followed.

7 It is contemplated ,that avending machine of the kind described shall dispense articles which are pre stacked within each container unit, as suggested in Figs. 1 and 2. Delivery ot-these several articles, one at a time, is

effected whenthe'drawer is pulled outwardly. The lowermost. article in this stack normally rests upon the drawer plate so as to be moved out from underneath the steel:

with movement ofthe'drawer. The remainmg artleles remain stationary within the "container due to confinem nt by the front door87. The height of the elevateddrawer plate 35 relative tothe lo er drawer plate may be slightly less than the vertical thickness of one of the articles which is to be dispensed (see Fig. 3). From this it results that ,the forward wall conveniently for grasping so that its .re-

movalmay be easily effected. It is desirable that means be provided for preventing tampering with the remaining articles both during and after the delivery operation, and for this purpose thedoor 87 carries ashield 95 just above each drawer which is extended outwardly to a point which prevents eii ective tampering with the remaining articles. By this means it is impossible to reach'ln to displace any of the articles which remain stored in the several container unit-s. When the drawers are retracted .under the action of thespring 51, the upstanding front walls 34: close the entrances to the articles within the housing, thereby opposing anytampering therewith. Also in the event that any implement be inserted beneath the drawer, such as a knife or saw blade, the depending lug 69 will afford an obstacleto manipulation of the latch member. It will be noted that the depending lug 69 extends intoan opening in the shelf Y and provides a stop for the forward swinging movement of the latch member "9. The point-of the hook 62 is thus supported slightly above the upper surface of the shelf in position to engage the slot 63 in the drawer Z. Unauthorized manipulation oi? the hook 62, by insertion of a thininstrum-ent'between the drawer and sheliXto lift the hook out of the slot 63, is thus prevented, as such an instrument will pass beneath the hook and engage the side of the lug 69.

will be seen that such engagement of the lug 69, by an instrument, will tend to force .the hook further into the slot 68. The lug 69 also functions as a stop or bumper for the drawer on its rearward movement to positively swing the latchmember forwardly on its pivot to engage with the drawer.

From the preceding description, the op will act as an ill eration of the present machine should be plain. A coin of proper denomination when introduced in the chute will t avel into the block pocket 67. By pulling upon the draw bar, this block will be advanced, together with the coin, to trip the latch member whereby the drawer is permitted to slide out with the draw bar. This movement takes place in response to engagement of the lug 56 with the drawer plate, the result being that the lowermo t article is displaced "from the stack to a position available l' manual removal "from the c-eiihtainer therea liter, when the draw bar released, the spring 51, will return the parts to their normal position, and the coemnodii'y lil'itfli'. will drop down a distance equal to the h inht oi the article which was withdrawn. The parts are now ready to repeat the dispensing operation when anotl'ier coin o1" proper denomination is inserted. I would have it noted. that the drawer llllllOli execute a return stroke until the displaced article is removed therefrom, due to engagement of the upper rear edges of the art .le with the lower front edge of the next higher article, which engagement takes place. themoment the d'awer co1nplctes its outward strol-te. Also, because the top face of the displaced article is slightly above the lower faceof the adjacent article, it is impossible to pry under the latter when the drawer is fully opened, as shown in Fig. 3. Because otthese peculiarities of construction, it is diiiicult, it not impossible, to tamper successfully with the present machine.

A. machine ol" the kind described may be mounted conveniently, either upon a vertical. or horizontal support. Whenever it desired to refill any oil the container units, the door is removed Freely without interior rnce iti'oin any of: the draw bars projecting therethrough. The coins used in the operation (it the machine may drop out 01' the pocket iii through a slot 101 in the bottom shelf. into a coin tray 1.09 which extends hmpitndinally oi? the housing, as shown. lly removing this one tray all of the coins may he collected in one operation so that the wort-i of looking after the machine is reduced to a. minimul'u.

The assembly oi the operating parts presents special advantages. The container bottom and shell, which are eiimnected together, provide between them a chaml'icr in which is contained the mechanism which controls the drawer movements. Upon the rear face of the back tlang e 3i a cushion pad 103 may be carried so as to fill up any space intervening between the rear wall of the container and the proximate "wall of the housing. The full strolze mechanism is also exceedingly simple, inasmuch as it avoids the necessityol' any separate rack bar to cooperate with the spring pawl -18. ithe several holes 4:9 may readily be punched through the bottom plate so as to act as teeth for the pawl to engage with, thereby assuring a full movement to the drawer with each dispensing operation. As these drawer lliOVGlllQllliS are attended with. considerable friction, owing to the weight of the article staclc, I have provided roller means to reduce to a n'iinimum the operating force required. Also other roller means are carried by the drawer which enwith the lowermost stationary article in the stack.

With a machine 0t this general character other minor features may be combined, such as glass panels 104 in the door, one for each dispensing unit, the same atlordinp; aview of the articles within the housing. It is only with the novel combination, arrangement. and organization of parts, as are hereinafter claimed, that my invention is con cerned, although manifestly it may be rariously embodied to meet any particular desires or requirements.

I claim i l. A dispensing apparatus having a reciprocahle ejector, a shell onwhich the ejector is slidablfi' mounted, means on the shell to operating with means on the ejector for locking the ejector in retracted position, operating means for said ejector slidably mounted below the shelf, coin-receiving means carried by said operating; means, and means for positioning a coin in said coinreceiving means for releasing, he ejector locking means when the o ierating; 1118:1115 is manipulated.

A dispensing apparatus having a reciprocable ejector slotted to receive a loch in means, a shell on which said ejector is slidably mounted, locking means -tor the ejector comprising a belhoranlr lever pivoted on said shelf and having; a hook at one end adz'ipted to engage the slot in said ejector and a depending tail portion at the other end, coin-receiving operating means for said ejector mounted below said shell? and adapted to engage the depending tail portion o'l? said lever to release said ejector when the operating means is manipulated, a nd means for preventing unauthorised manipulation of the locking; means coi'nprising a lug depending from said lever and extendinginto an opening in said shell.

2-3. A dispensing apparatus having); a re c-i1n'oeable ejector, operation: means For :niid ejector comprising a ilat (litl\\'-'l);1l., means opcratively connce inp, sa d draw-bar and ejector, a block. slotted to receive a coin, se cured to one side of said drawbar, gribs cooperating with said drawbar and block to provide a guide-way 'l'or said drawbar, and means positioned in the path of a coin carried by said block for normally retaining said ejector in retracted position.

at. A dispensing appa 'atus having an artishelf and having a depending portion positioned in the path of a coin carried by said com receiver.

5. A dispensing apparatus having an article drawer reciprocable to a delivery position, a shelf on which said drawer 1S slidably mounted, a plate below said shelf in spaced relation thereto, operating means for said drawer slidably mounted on said plate and extending in part through said shelf to engage said drawer, a coin receiver reciprocable with said operating means, and means carried by said shelf and positioned in the path of a coin carried by said coin receiver for normally engaging with said drawer to prevent movement thereof.

6. A dispensing apparatus for stacked articles of merchandise having an article drawer reciprocable to a delivery position beneath sald stack, sa d drawer having an elevated housing adapted to support said stackwhen the drawer is moved to delivery position, locking means for said drawer within said housing, operating means for said drawer extending in part into said housing, and means extending through said housing for positioning a coin to unlock said drawer upon the operation of said operat ing means. p

7. A dispensing apparatus in which is comprised an article drawer reciprocable' to a delivery position, drawer supporting means providing an enclosed chamber therebelow, operating means within the chamber extending in part upwardly therefrom to V engage with the-drawer, and a latch carried by said supporting means and normally engaging with the drawer to prevent movement thereof, the drawer being movable, when the latch is tripped, in response to movement of the operating means, substantially as described.

' EDWARD SCHULTZ. 

